PDA

View Full Version : Please ransack my platform!




GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 12:45 AM
OK, I have what can only be the perfect job for the people of the Ron Paul Forums. I have produced a one page double sided letter sized paper describing my platform for the race for NC House in 2010. I have fit as much text as I can possibly cram onto a single double sided sheet, by reducing the whitespace to 8 pt, and the non-header text to 11 pt. Therefore if I were able to, I would certainly have put more information on this handout.

What I need from you guys to to do a critical review of my platform, to point out if I left anything important out, if I included something irrelevant, or if I just said something dead wrong.

I just put this together over the last....2 hours or so so it was a little bit rushed and therefore I am expecting to see mistakes. Do please review this platform and be as constructively critical as possible. Thanks!


(PAGE 1)

Citizens of North Carolina’s Franklin, Halifax, and Nash Counties:

My name is Glen Bradley, and I am running for NC State House District 49 against Lucy T. Allen in 2010.

My primary goal in the State House will be to affect the real reform of State Government to restore the Constitutional order for the Citizens of North Carolina. The most apparent expression of this strategy will be the “Freedom Acts Agenda” wherein I intend to introduce and work for the passage of five Freedom Acts that will work together to affect real Constitutional reform of our government.

PLATFORM STATEMENT -- Primary Legislative Agenda

Health Care Reform:

Our healthcare system is broken, but the reforms being suggested by the Federal Government will serve only to break it further. A NC Healthcare Freedom Act will allow NC Citizens and companies to opt out of this disastrous plan, as well as enact much needed reforms allowing people to purchase insurance from out of state, establish groups to negotiate for better prices, establish tax sheltered Medical Savings Accounts, and affect tort reform in our State.

Energy Market Reforms:

Federal energy market reforms such as Cap and Trade not only create more pollution than they prevent, they also establish a multilayered tax scheme that will bankrupt our companies and our citizens, and regulate every aspect of our lives such as home construction and retrofitting. A North Carolina Energy Freedom and Market Independence Act will exempt from Federal regulation any energy market transaction that begins and terminates within the borders of NC, as well as permitting the exploration of new energy resources that will lead to energy independence for NC.

Gun Control Reforms:

The US Attorney General, along with the Presidents choice of a Regulatory Czar reveal an anti-gun agenda on the part of the Obama Administration. The law abiding citizens of North Carolina deserve protection against this federal overreach. A North Carolina Firearms Freedom Act, basically a clone of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act, will exempt from federal regulation any and all firearms, ammunition, components and accessories which are manufactured, sold, and which remain within the borders of North Carolina.

Tenth Amendment Reforms:

The Tenth Amendment is the lynchpin of the US Constitution, and guarantees the sovereignty of the several states of the United States. The Tenth Amendment reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” A North Carolina 10th Amendment State Sovereignty Act will assert the reserved powers of North Carolina and our citizens and provide protection against both former and further federal overreach preventing the enactment of unconstitutional law in our state.

Ninth Amendment Reforms:

The Ninth Amendment describes the most crucial aspect of Constitutional law being that the listing of individual rights in the Constitution is not exhaustive, thereby implying that every US Citizen is sovereign in their own right, and granted the fullness of self determination within the American Constitutional Republic. The Ninth Amendment reads: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” A NC Ninth Amendment Reserved Powers Act will work in concert with the Tenth Amendment Act to specify that the Federal Government has only those powers listed in the Constitution, and no more.

Glen Bradley for State House 2010 -- glenbradley.net -- nchouse2010.glenbradley.net


(PAGE 2)

General Policy Positions

Education:

The key to eliminating poverty in our lifetime is found in education. Currently, we are immersed in a Federally mandated system that has artificially eliminated competition and radically reduced the quality of our schools. North Carolina must assert our Tenth Amendment reserved powers to opt out of the failed “No Child Left Behind” program that has abandoned actual education in favor of test preparations. We must restore genuine competition and school choice if we have any hopes of developing in our State the finest education system in America. By allowing school vouchers, district transfers, charter schools, as well as encouraging private schools and homeschooling, we will allow parents to take their children out of failed schools and enroll them into successful schools. This will create intense competition for students and resources based in the quality of of an institution’s education, thereby lifting the children of poor families -- who now only have access to substandard education -- out of poverty and giving them access to the American Dream.

Taxes:

A State’s prosperity is not based in the amount of taxes it collects, but rather in the gross product produced by the companies and citizens of that state. An over-large tax burden reduces innovation and investment and limits the gross product of North Carolina. Dramatically reducing our citizens and our companies tax burdens will create innovation and reinvestment, expanding North Carolina’s general prosperity and gross product, leading to a greater tax base -- not from higher taxes, but from higher general prosperity amongst all of our citizens.

Marketplace Regulation:

Most market regulations that have become law in North Carolina and the United States, were actually written by the very companies and lobbyists which the legislature intended to regulate. These regulations are written not to protect the consumers, but to create market barriers to entry, thus establishing monopolies allowing companies to charge enormous prices for a substandard product. Real reform would focus on repealing those regulations which raise market barriers to entry while maintaining consumer protections, thus encouraging competition and therefore providing the citizens of North Carolina with superior, safe products at lower prices, and allowing entrepreneurs the freedom to pursue their dreams.

The Right to Keep and Bear Arms:

The right to bear arms is a fundamental liberty guaranteed by both the US and the NC Constitutions. Not only are gun control regulations unwise and dangerous, they are illegal. The right to bear arms shall not be infringed. Glen Bradley will work to repeal gun control regulations, and will never vote in favor of gun control.

Welfare Reform:

Welfare, however well intentioned, has become a trap from which there is little or no hope of escape. We must work to protect our most vulnerable and impoverished citizens by providing them with a path to prosperity, and allow them to escape from the trap of poverty. We should look towards states such as New Mexico and Michigan for insight into the kind of welfare reforms that do not leave citizens out in the cold, but actually gives them the tools and the ability to become prosperous, self-sufficient, and self-determined. Every citizen deserves a chance to fulfill their American dream, and not just those fortunate enough to be self sufficient already.

Redistricting, Political Corruption, and Term Limits:

Clearly, we have a problem with political corruption in North Carolina. Between special interests, lobbyist influence, favor trading, and cronyism, something desperately needs to be done. The solution is to stop the illegal district gerrymandering that keeps the corrupt in power, by establishing fair, community based redistricting, and setting term limits for the NC General Assembly at 3 terms.


This document is written produced and distributed by the Committee to elect Glen Bradley for NC State House District 49 2010

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 01:29 AM
sorrybuttigottabump

BenIsForRon
09-11-2009, 01:35 AM
I'll read some tomorrow, and try to read it as if I were a rank-and-file republican, I've gotten to know them well over the past two years.

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 01:51 AM
I'll read some tomorrow, and try to read it as if I were a rank-and-file republican, I've gotten to know them well over the past two years.

I appreciate it!

Yeah, it's long and detailed, but it seems to me in the current environment that long and detailed is what people want. Normally they do not, but at least for right now, people are wary and what to have some details on what they are getting into.

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 05:38 AM
Bumping for the morning crowd

Brian in Maryland
09-11-2009, 06:04 AM
Just sitting here at work on a rainy morning, drinking coffee, trying to wake up.
I don’t really have anything constructive to say, other that it looks good to me.

angelatc
09-11-2009, 06:07 AM
I'm not sure you meant it to sound this way, but it sounds like you're looking at Michigan as an example of a successful welfare program.

Jobs. A plan to bring jobs would be good.

fisharmor
09-11-2009, 07:31 AM
One thing I would definitely change is that I would not mention HSAs as being "tax sheltered". Try "tax exempt". "Tax shelter" carries some less-than-honest connotations with it.

I'm not as familiar with NC politics as I am with VA politics. Up here we have a pretty serious disconnect between urban and rural populations. Is it the same way there, and can you speak to that? Are any of these topics hot-buttons? Up here, there's a lot of single-issue voting: a NOVA candidate has only to say "I'm against hot lanes" or "I want our fair share of transportation dollars" to get certain votes.

One thing I'm always annoyed at with politics is that there are never case studies: it's always "well this is my philosophy and if you like it vote for me". I like knowing that what's being discussed has been tried and had positive results. Think of John Stossel's education piece on 20/20: Belgian system works, USA system doesn't, proof provided. Or that we grew up with two leased rotary phones in the house, and twenty years after deregulation the phone in our pocket dialed by voice command. Or that five years ago a friend of mine got basic PRK for $3500 and today I can get custom wavefront from the same place for half of that.

The market thing in particular is going to be a tough sell, considering that we've been bombarded for a year with MSM claims that capitalism is demonstrably broken. I think maybe you should stick with RP's message that we haven't allowed the market to work in about 50 years. But definitely some cases are needed!

I know that's a lot to put on a slim jim, but every time I talk with socialists about this stuff they never have a rebuttal for market successes, or if they do they rebut with another thing that government has fooled with.

Elwar
09-11-2009, 08:07 AM
Looks good...though it does seem that candidates early on tend to keep things very general and focus on getting name recognition first...

Elwar
09-11-2009, 08:09 AM
You also forgot to put down what a great family man you are...plus your qualifications (experience that makes you a good choice as a candidate).

hamilton1049
09-11-2009, 08:15 AM
Looks pretty good, the only issue I can think of is the favoritism given to attract new companies by exempting them from certain taxes for x number of years while shafting existing companies to make up the difference. I don't know if you could reduce it down under the overall tax reduction statement, or maybe it isn't a major issue in that district.

Live_Free_Or_Die
09-11-2009, 08:21 AM
All of this kind of stuff is very subjective to the individual and I do not know you personally gunny to know your mind. Just throwing out unqualified thoughts. I tend to like more specific statements.

In the fiscal reporting years of 2006 & 2007, North Carolina collected 19,460,031,250 billion dollars, a staggering figure. I am going to ask the tough question, 19.5 billion went to state government instead of what? That is 19.5 billion dollars worth of market innovations and solutions we miss out on. I must ask what did we get in return for our 19.5 billion dollar investment.

Since first suggested by Hugh Chamberlin in 1694 health insurance has evolved from a market solution assessing health risk to distribution of funds for mandated illnesses among policy holders.

The Council for Affordable Health Insurance has been advocating market oriented solutions to health care problems since 1992. In 2008, CAHI published a State-by-State breakdown of Health Insurance Mandates and their costs. North Carolina presently has 47 legislated mandates impacting basic health care plans. CAHI has estimated mandates can impact health care plans by 20%-50%.

Residents of North Carolina can only purchase health insurance from companies licensed to do business in the State of North Carolina. In addition North Carolina took $475 million dollars out of the market collecting insurance tax. Did we get a $475 million dollar return?

North Carolina has systematically reduced competition and increased costs in the market for health insurance. My solutions yada yada.

http://www.dornc.com/publications/abstract/2008/table2.pdf
http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/HealthInsuranceMandates2008.pdf

Tenth Amendment

In 1798, two of the most prominent authors of the Constitution of the United States, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, authored resolutions in Kentucky and Pennsylvania ignoring federal laws that overstepped the federal bounds of power expressly delegated in the constitution. These important constitutional concepts have been recently applied in tenth amendment legislation in other states. As a representative for the people of North Carolina I will protect your rights and freedom from abuse by introducing legislation that nullifies unconstitutional federal law.

KCIndy
09-11-2009, 08:24 AM
First of all, it looks pretty darn good, especially for something put together in the wee hours of the morning!! :)

Okay, my two cents worth of input, from the top:

1. Where you write, "I intend to introduce and work for the passage of five Freedom Acts that will work together to affect real Constitutional reform of our government." you might want to make it clear that your Primary Legislative Agenda consists of those five Acts that follow.

Perhaps you could insert the words, "the following" making the statement read: "I intend to introduce and work for the passage of [the following] five Freedom Acts that will work together to affect real Constitutional reform of our government.

(also, one other super-nitpicky note: I think - think - that "affect" should be spelled with an "e" in this instance. In other words, the last sentence should read, "...will work together to effect real Constitutional reform...." but you might want to round up an English teacher to ask about that one!!) :)


2. Under "Health Care Reform" same comment as above, I believe that the word is "effect" rather than "affect" and should read, "...and effect tort reform in our State."
But again, I urge you to check with an English teacher before taking my suggestion!


3. Under "Gun Control Reforms" a possessive apostrophe is needed for "the President's Choice..." (yeah, I know that's picky) Also under "Gun Control Reforms" I must sadly add that many people have never heard of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act. I would suggest restructuring the sentence to read: "A North Carolina Firearms Freedom Act will exempt from federal regulation any and all firearms, ammunition, components and accessories which are manufactured, sold, and which remain within the borders of North Carolina."

By cutting out the phrase, "basically a clone of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act," the sentence becomes a little smoother. No one, (in my opinion) will care if your legislation IS a clone of the Montana Act. If it's good enough for North Carolina, it's good enough for North Carolina, if you see what I mean. You can always explain the Montana legislation at greater length on your web site and give them full credit for the idea there.


4. Under "Taxes" yet another nitpicking apostrophe comment. (Sorry!) The phrase: "reducing our citizens and our companies tax burdens" should have apostrophes after the 's' in citizens and companies, like so: ...reducing our citizens' and our companies' tax burdens...

Or, the sentence could be restructured to read: "Dramatically reducing the tax burden on our citizens and our companies will create innovation and reinvestment..."



5. Under "The Right to Keep and Bear Arms" you refer to yourself in the third person. All your other self references through the rest of the platform are in first person.

current: "Glen Bradley will work to repeal gun control regulations, and will never vote in favor of gun control."

suggestion: "I, Glen Bradley, will work to repeal gun control regulations, and will never vote in favor of gun control." Or just a simple: "I will work to repeal gun control..."



6. Under "Welfare Reform" unless you can give a little more background or details, I think I would eliminate the references to New Mexico and Michigan, as this might cause more confusion than clarity.

current: "We should look towards states such as New Mexico and Michigan for insight into the kind of welfare reforms that do not leave citizens out in the cold, but actually gives them the tools and the ability to become prosperous, self-sufficient, and self-determined."

suggestion: "We should look into the kind of welfare reforms that do not leave citizens out in the cold, but actually gives them the tools and the ability to become prosperous, self-sufficient, and self-determined."

If there isn't room on the single page handout to go into detail, you might add the phrase, "please see my website for much more information on this subject." or words to that effect, or even make up single-issue handouts, available upon request, that go into much greater details.



7. Under "Redistricting, Political Corruption, and Term Limits" you might consider changing the numerical "3" to a written "three" which is a bit more in step with common usage.



Last of all - my apologies for some obvious nitpicking stuff. I tend to go overboard on these things. No offense is intended, and please feel free to disregard any or all of these suggestions. My feelings won't be hurt!! :D These are just a few stray observations.

Overall, I think your platform is very thought provoking and laid out in a very understandable style. Keep that trait! People are going to love being talked to like an intelligent equal, especially with the habit of many of today's politicians to be condescending or patronizing.

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 12:54 PM
OK, back in the land of the living, reversed circadian rhythm notwithstanding. You guys are AWESOME! I'm pouring over every detail now.

fisharmor
09-11-2009, 01:09 PM
poring (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pore)

:p

MelissaWV
09-11-2009, 01:18 PM
You've gotten fine input on content. I would consider making some of the statements a bit sharper, which will only come with time and numerous reviews.

One thing I would like to point out, though, is that your contact information is largely irrelevant in the format you currently have. Email? Phone? Website? You want people to get involved, to maybe find out some more information once they get there (if there's a website).

I would also advise that you consider size and conditions. If this is going to be "left" somewhere, then you don't just want random computer paper. It doesn't do well in rain or humidity. You want something handsome and professional to hand out.

The message itself is great :)

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 01:24 PM
Just real quick before I dive full in to the rest of it, I just found out a very very curious item with regard to affect and effect.

Reading this page:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_spelprob.html

it appears that the use of 'effect' in the above context (to effect a change in government) stems from an early misuse of effect/affect that should have been affect, but has been used wrongly so much that the wrong usage has now become the proper usage.

while the proper grammatical use of the action verb SHOULD HAVE BEEN 'affect' as presented, apparently when using the word to describe government specifically, politicians have so abused the words for the last 500 (yes, 500 years that instead of fixing their wrong usage, now the language itself has been changed to make them 'right.'

Rere is the text from the above link:


Affect and Effect

Meanings for the most common uses:
Affect

1. af•fect (transitive verb) [Middle English, from affectus, past participle of afficere]

to produce an effect upon, as a: to produce a material influence upon or alteration in <paralysis affected his limbs> b: to act upon (as a person or a person's mind or feelings) so as to bring about a response; influence



Effect

1. ef•fect (noun) [Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin effectus, from efficere to bring about, from ex- out (of) + facere to make, do]

1a: purport; intent <the effect of their statement was to incite anger> b: basic meaning; essence <her argument had the effect of a plea for justice>
2: something that inevitably follows an antecedent (as a cause or agent) <environmental devastation is one effect of unchecked industrial expansion>
3: an outward sign; appearance <the makeup created the effect of old age on their faces>
4: accomplishment; fulfillment <the effect of years of hard work>
5: power to bring about a result; influence <the content itself of television is therefore less important than its effect>
6 plural: movable property; goods <personal effects>
7a: a distinctive impression <the color gives the effect of being warm> b: the creation of a desired impression <her tears were purely for effect> c (1): something designed to produce a distinctive or desired impression, usually used in plural (2) plural: special effects
8: the quality or state of being operative; operation <the law goes into effect next week>

in effect: in substance; virtually <the committee agreed to what was in effect a reduction in the hourly wage>
to the effect: with the meaning <issued a statement to the effect that he would resign>



Meanings for less common uses:
Affect:

2. af•fect (transitive verb)

1: to make a display of liking or using; cultivate <affect a worldly manner>
2: to put on a pretense of; feign <affect indifference, though deeply hurt>

3. af•fect (noun) [pronunciation: stress on first syllable, unlike verb forms of this word]

the conscious subjective aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes <he displayed a distressing lack of affect>



Effect

2. ef•fect (transitive verb)

1: to cause to come into being <the citizens were able to effect a change in government policy>
2a: to bring about often by surmounting obstacles; accomplish <effect a settlement of a dispute> b: to put into operation <the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens>

Usage: The confusion of the verbs affect and effect not only is quite common but has a long history. The verb effect was used in place of affect (1, above) as early as 1494 and in place of affect (2, above) as early as 1652. If you think you want to use the verb effect but are not certain, check the definitions here. The noun affect is sometimes mistakenly used for the noun effect. Except when your topic is psychology, you will seldom need the noun affect.


So this almost puts me in a dilemma. Since 'affect' is an action verb "to produce change in ..." and 'effect' is a noun "the change that has been produced" BUT specifically in the realm of politics and law the word "affect" has become "effect" simply because lawyers and politicians were being stupid and would rather see the language adulterated than admit they were wrong, it kind of makes me want to buck the idiot lawyers and politicians and use the terms as originally intended.

Kinda like saying, "I'm not an idiot lawyer or politician," but apparently as of the last 150 years my usage would be wrong, and I hate to be grammatically wrong unless I'm using an intentional colloquialism.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I never in my life thought that I would find a reason in grammar and syntax to further hate lawyers and politicians!!!

I will most likely change the word to "effect," but I will feel like a grammarless moron (or, a 'politician') when I do... lol

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 01:33 PM
poring (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pore)

:p

ROFLOL ok - on that one I am legitimately and completely wrong. ;) I must say that one is counter-intuitive. Mind you about 1/3 of all English grammar is counter-intuitive...

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 01:40 PM
I'm not sure you meant it to sound this way, but it sounds like you're looking at Michigan as an example of a successful welfare program.

Jobs. A plan to bring jobs would be good.

You, and the other person who suggested I leave out specific states are correct. While Gary Johnson produced successful welfare reform in New Mexico that Michigan later copied, listing specific states has the potential to raise any problems that they have not solved and wrongfully attach them to my plan.

WRT jobs, I agree, and thanks! People are going to be a LOT more interested in how I can bring more jobs to the state/district than how I'm going to reform welfare. Based on space considerations, and priorities, I am thinking I should remove the whole welfare section altogether and replace it with jobs. I WOULD leave in the welfare reform section (with the suggested changes) AND add jobs, but there will not be enough room on the handout for that.

change 1: Remove the 'Welfare Reform' section and replace with 'creating jobs'

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 02:04 PM
One thing I would definitely change is that I would not mention HSAs as being "tax sheltered". Try "tax exempt". "Tax shelter" carries some less-than-honest connotations with it.

I'm not as familiar with NC politics as I am with VA politics. Up here we have a pretty serious disconnect between urban and rural populations. Is it the same way there, and can you speak to that? Are any of these topics hot-buttons? Up here, there's a lot of single-issue voting: a NOVA candidate has only to say "I'm against hot lanes" or "I want our fair share of transportation dollars" to get certain votes.

One thing I'm always annoyed at with politics is that there are never case studies: it's always "well this is my philosophy and if you like it vote for me". I like knowing that what's being discussed has been tried and had positive results. Think of John Stossel's education piece on 20/20: Belgian system works, USA system doesn't, proof provided. Or that we grew up with two leased rotary phones in the house, and twenty years after deregulation the phone in our pocket dialed by voice command. Or that five years ago a friend of mine got basic PRK for $3500 and today I can get custom wavefront from the same place for half of that.

The market thing in particular is going to be a tough sell, considering that we've been bombarded for a year with MSM claims that capitalism is demonstrably broken. I think maybe you should stick with RP's message that we haven't allowed the market to work in about 50 years. But definitely some cases are needed!

I know that's a lot to put on a slim jim, but every time I talk with socialists about this stuff they never have a rebuttal for market successes, or if they do they rebut with another thing that government has fooled with.

Change 2: Remove negative-connotation "tax sheltered" and replace with positive-connotation "tax exempt"

Hot button topics in NC between urban, suburban, and rural populations are mostly focused on forced annexation, which has not been enough of an issue in district 49 to effectively capitalize on. It breaks down on partisan lines though, with republicans opposing forced annexation and democrats favoring it.

Beyond that, most hotbutton issues are about political corruption. Governor Perdue forced us to accept an "education lottery" even though the majority of citizens did not want it. She rammed it through the general assembly by promising that the funds would never ever be used for anything but education. Along comes 2009 and all the money from the lottery gets dumped into the general fund to pay for government excess, and not a penny makes it into education.

Former Governor Mike Easley, another administration characterized by rampant corruption, finagled his wife Mary a job at NC State university paying $120k a year to do nothing. This has been proven, and people have been fired and resigned in the fallout. In a move of amazing hubris that could only come from a politician, Mary Easley has sued NC State for wrongful termination.

Those kinds of thins, however, don't really belong on a platform.

I need to think on how to "soften" the language on market freedom, as you suggest.

Change 3: Soften the language on market freedom to appeal more broadly

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 02:51 PM
You also forgot to put down what a great family man you are...plus your qualifications (experience that makes you a good choice as a candidate).

At the moment I have that on a separate platform -- well except for the family man part. I am single, and that would therefore be a hard claim to make. I'd like to see some of that on the platform handout too, but I don't know if I can find room for it. Maybe I can drop my text down to 10 point? I'm using Optima, so 10 point is more readable than you would ordinarily think. It's like with "Times" 10 point is too small to read, but with Arial or Veranda, 10 point is easy to read. Hmm... I'll have to mull over that one for a bit...

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 02:56 PM
Looks pretty good, the only issue I can think of is the favoritism given to attract new companies by exempting them from certain taxes for x number of years while shafting existing companies to make up the difference. I don't know if you could reduce it down under the overall tax reduction statement, or maybe it isn't a major issue in that district.

Agree. I am an Apple fan, but I am not pleased with State Gov giving Apple all these crazy tax incentives to move in here. I can't blame Apple so much, if I were some megacorp and someone said "Move here and you will be tax free!" I might even do that myself. The bad actor there is Bev Perdue and her cronies.

It actually isn't a major issue in this district. The closest thing to that that is an issue is government grants to businesses. Apparently several 'friends of the administration' quite often get these government grants in the hundreds of thousands to open businesses they could not otherwise fund.

The local GOP for the last 4 years has had this big "Grant Free Zone" that republican business owners like to display in their windows, but that disappeared this year.

Maybe I can figure out how to incorporate these items, let me mull over that one for a bit also...

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 03:54 PM
All of this kind of stuff is very subjective to the individual and I do not know you personally gunny to know your mind. Just throwing out unqualified thoughts. I tend to like more specific statements.

In the fiscal reporting years of 2006 & 2007, North Carolina collected 19,460,031,250 billion dollars, a staggering figure. I am going to ask the tough question, 19.5 billion went to state government instead of what? That is 19.5 billion dollars worth of market innovations and solutions we miss out on. I must ask what did we get in return for our 19.5 billion dollar investment.

Since first suggested by Hugh Chamberlin in 1694 health insurance has evolved from a market solution assessing health risk to distribution of funds for mandated illnesses among policy holders.

The Council for Affordable Health Insurance has been advocating market oriented solutions to health care problems since 1992. In 2008, CAHI published a State-by-State breakdown of Health Insurance Mandates and their costs. North Carolina presently has 47 legislated mandates impacting basic health care plans. CAHI has estimated mandates can impact health care plans by 20%-50%.

Residents of North Carolina can only purchase health insurance from companies licensed to do business in the State of North Carolina. In addition North Carolina took $475 million dollars out of the market collecting insurance tax. Did we get a $475 million dollar return?

North Carolina has systematically reduced competition and increased costs in the market for health insurance. My solutions yada yada.

http://www.dornc.com/publications/abstract/2008/table2.pdf
http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/HealthInsuranceMandates2008.pdf

Tenth Amendment

In 1798, two of the most prominent authors of the Constitution of the United States, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, authored resolutions in Kentucky and Pennsylvania ignoring federal laws that overstepped the federal bounds of power expressly delegated in the constitution. These important constitutional concepts have been recently applied in tenth amendment legislation in other states. As a representative for the people of North Carolina I will protect your rights and freedom from abuse by introducing legislation that nullifies unconstitutional federal law.

This is amazing stuff! I'm going to be spending the next several hours figuring out just how to incorporate much of this.

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 03:58 PM
First of all, it looks pretty darn good, especially for something put together in the wee hours of the morning!! :)

Okay, my two cents worth of input, from the top:

1. Where you write, "I intend to introduce and work for the passage of five Freedom Acts that will work together to affect real Constitutional reform of our government." you might want to make it clear that your Primary Legislative Agenda consists of those five Acts that follow.

Perhaps you could insert the words, "the following" making the statement read: "I intend to introduce and work for the passage of [the following] five Freedom Acts that will work together to affect real Constitutional reform of our government.

(also, one other super-nitpicky note: I think - think - that "affect" should be spelled with an "e" in this instance. In other words, the last sentence should read, "...will work together to effect real Constitutional reform...." but you might want to round up an English teacher to ask about that one!!) :)


2. Under "Health Care Reform" same comment as above, I believe that the word is "effect" rather than "affect" and should read, "...and effect tort reform in our State."
But again, I urge you to check with an English teacher before taking my suggestion!


3. Under "Gun Control Reforms" a possessive apostrophe is needed for "the President's Choice..." (yeah, I know that's picky) Also under "Gun Control Reforms" I must sadly add that many people have never heard of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act. I would suggest restructuring the sentence to read: "A North Carolina Firearms Freedom Act will exempt from federal regulation any and all firearms, ammunition, components and accessories which are manufactured, sold, and which remain within the borders of North Carolina."

By cutting out the phrase, "basically a clone of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act," the sentence becomes a little smoother. No one, (in my opinion) will care if your legislation IS a clone of the Montana Act. If it's good enough for North Carolina, it's good enough for North Carolina, if you see what I mean. You can always explain the Montana legislation at greater length on your web site and give them full credit for the idea there.


4. Under "Taxes" yet another nitpicking apostrophe comment. (Sorry!) The phrase: "reducing our citizens and our companies tax burdens" should have apostrophes after the 's' in citizens and companies, like so: ...reducing our citizens' and our companies' tax burdens...

Or, the sentence could be restructured to read: "Dramatically reducing the tax burden on our citizens and our companies will create innovation and reinvestment..."



5. Under "The Right to Keep and Bear Arms" you refer to yourself in the third person. All your other self references through the rest of the platform are in first person.

current: "Glen Bradley will work to repeal gun control regulations, and will never vote in favor of gun control."

suggestion: "I, Glen Bradley, will work to repeal gun control regulations, and will never vote in favor of gun control." Or just a simple: "I will work to repeal gun control..."



6. Under "Welfare Reform" unless you can give a little more background or details, I think I would eliminate the references to New Mexico and Michigan, as this might cause more confusion than clarity.

current: "We should look towards states such as New Mexico and Michigan for insight into the kind of welfare reforms that do not leave citizens out in the cold, but actually gives them the tools and the ability to become prosperous, self-sufficient, and self-determined."

suggestion: "We should look into the kind of welfare reforms that do not leave citizens out in the cold, but actually gives them the tools and the ability to become prosperous, self-sufficient, and self-determined."

If there isn't room on the single page handout to go into detail, you might add the phrase, "please see my website for much more information on this subject." or words to that effect, or even make up single-issue handouts, available upon request, that go into much greater details.



7. Under "Redistricting, Political Corruption, and Term Limits" you might consider changing the numerical "3" to a written "three" which is a bit more in step with common usage.



Last of all - my apologies for some obvious nitpicking stuff. I tend to go overboard on these things. No offense is intended, and please feel free to disregard any or all of these suggestions. My feelings won't be hurt!! :D These are just a few stray observations.

Overall, I think your platform is very thought provoking and laid out in a very understandable style. Keep that trait! People are going to love being talked to like an intelligent equal, especially with the habit of many of today's politicians to be condescending or patronizing.

Actually, what you call the 'nitpicking stuff' is absolutely crucial to presenting a professional image. No need to apologize for that! I am now in the modification stage, and will repost the changes made tonight.

Working Poor
09-11-2009, 07:44 PM
Great stuff gunny! I wish you were in my district. I am glad you are running in NC though and I hope you get elected. Whatever piece of back that you got that I can watch I will have that for you. I tell people all the time that I blog with someone who is running for office in the NC House of Rep. I talk about you to everyone who will listen and say we need to look for more candidates like you to support.

Something I wonder about is the lottery in NC on the up and up? Are the funds going for what is said they are going for? Do you ever wonder what is happening with the lottery?

I get out and talk to lots of people. I have a few friends that I have been talking with about running for office in the state and local governments. I have even thought about running myself for maybe city counsel or something.

I send you good wishes and remember you in my prayers and I beseech you get in there and fight the good fight!!:)

tangent4ronpaul
09-11-2009, 08:34 PM
Kind of wish you were running for congress or the senate...

Anyway, the first 2 sections look like you had writers block - pretty bad. Then it started to flow. The beginning is your hook - it really has to rock - and it doesn't. You need to go back and redo it.

You used the term "whereas" or something like it in there. It SCREAMED *LAWYER!* RUN AWAY! - You need to be a bit more folksy and not so formal. You know that lady who writes for some newspaper - she wrote the "your scaring us" thing about health care, and "we'll all be sporting bumper stickers on our bicycles saying my other grocery store is my garden" about energy policy. Things that catch peoples eye and they can relate to - if they are political or not. You need to connect with everyday people and their lives. How things effect them.

Take a day or two off and read Hemingway. Pay attention to his simplicity in words. Lack of excess verbage. Look over your sections. If you used the same word or phrase 2 or 3 times in the same paragraph, it's probably a mistake - but not always. If you used the same phrase - It IS!

-t

GunnyFreedom
09-11-2009, 09:40 PM
OK, I'm still working on folding in Live_Free_Or_Die's outstanding suggestions, MelissaWV's, WorkingPoor's, and tangent's as well. As an update, here is where I am at on the editing so far:



(PAGE 1)

Citizens of North Carolina’s Franklin, Halifax, and Nash Counties:

My name is Glen Bradley, a self employed former Seminarian former US Marine, and I am running for NC State House District 49 against Lucy T. Allen in 2010.

My agenda as your State House Representative will be to effect the real reform of State Government in order to restore the Constitutional order for the Citizens of North Carolina. The most apparent expression of this strategy will be the “Freedom Acts Agenda” in which I will introduce and sponsor the following five bills that will work together to create the real Constitutional reform of our State government, and protect us all from the unconstitutional overreach of the Federal Government.

PLATFORM STATEMENT -- Primary Legislative Agenda

Health Care Reform: NC Healthcare Freedom Act

Our healthcare system is broken, but the reforms being suggested by the Federal Government will serve only to break it further. A NC Healthcare Freedom Act will allow NC Citizens and companies to opt out of this disastrous plan, as well as enact much needed reforms allowing people to purchase insurance from out of state, establish groups to negotiate for better prices, establish tax exempt Medical Savings Accounts, and effect tort reform in our State.

Energy Market Reforms: NC Energy Independence and Market Freedom Act

Federal energy market reforms such as Cap and Trade will not only create more pollution than they prevent, they will also establish a multilayered tax scheme that will bankrupt our companies and our citizens, and regulate every aspect of our lives, including home construction and retrofitting. A North Carolina Energy Independence and Market Freedom Act will exempt from Federal regulation any energy market transactions that begin and terminate within the borders of NC, as well as permitting the exploration of new energy resources which will lead to energy independence and prosperity for North Carolina.

Gun Control Reforms: NC Firearms Freedom Act

The US Attorney General along with the President's choice of a Regulatory Czar, reveal an anti-gun agenda on the part of the Obama Administration. The law abiding citizens of North Carolina deserve protection against this federal overreach. A North Carolina Firearms Freedom Act will exempt from federal regulation any and all firearms, ammunition, components and accessories which are manufactured, sold, and which remain within the borders of North Carolina.

Tenth Amendment Reforms: NC Tenth Amendment State Sovereignty Act

The Tenth Amendment is the lynchpin of the US Constitution, and it guarantees the sovereignty of the several states of the United States. The Tenth Amendment reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” A North Carolina Tenth Amendment State Sovereignty Act will reassert the reserved powers of North Carolina and our citizens, and provide protection against both former and future federal overreach, preventing the enactment of unconstitutional law in our state.

Ninth Amendment Reforms: NC Ninth Amendment Reserved Powers Act

The Ninth Amendment describes the most crucial aspect of Constitutional law, being that the listing of individual rights in the Constitution is not exhaustive - implying that every US Citizen is sovereign in their own right and granted the fullness of self-determination within the American Constitutional Republic. The Ninth Amendment reads: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” A North Carolina Ninth Amendment Reserved Powers Act will work in concert with the Tenth Amendment Act to specify that the Federal Government has only those powers listed in the Constitution, and no more.

Glen Bradley for State House 2010 -- glenbradley.net -- nchouse2010.glenbradley.net


(PAGE 2)

General Policy Positions

Education:

The key to eliminating poverty in our lifetime is found in education. Currently, we are immersed in a Federally mandated system that has artificially eliminated competition and radically reduced the quality of our schools. North Carolina must assert our Tenth Amendment reserved powers to opt out of the failed “No Child Left Behind” program that has abandoned actual education in favor of test preparations. We must restore genuine competition and school choice if we have any hopes of developing in our State the finest education system in America. By allowing school vouchers, district transfers, charter schools, as well as encouraging private schools and homeschooling, we will allow parents to take their children out of failed schools and enroll them into successful schools. This will create intense competition for students and resources based in the quality of of an institution’s education, thereby lifting the children of poor families -- who now only have access to substandard education -- out of poverty and giving them access to the American Dream.

Taxes:

A State’s prosperity is not based in the amount of taxes it collects, but rather in the gross product produced by the companies and citizens of that state. An over-large tax burden reduces innovation and investment and limits the gross product of North Carolina. Dramatically reducing the tax burden on our citizens and our companies will create innovation and reinvestment, expanding North Carolina’s general prosperity and gross product, leading to a greater tax base -- not from higher taxes, but from higher general prosperity amongst all of our citizens.

Marketplace Regulation:

Most market regulations that have become law in North Carolina and the United States, were actually written by the very companies and lobbyists which the legislature intended to regulate. These regulations are written not to protect the consumers, but to create market barriers to entry, thus establishing monopolies allowing companies to charge enormous prices for a substandard product. Real reform would focus on repealing those regulations which raise market barriers to entry while maintaining consumer protections, thus encouraging competition and therefore providing the citizens of North Carolina with superior, safe products at lower prices, and allowing entrepreneurs the freedom to pursue their dreams.

The Right to Keep and Bear Arms:

The right to bear arms is a fundamental liberty guaranteed by both the US and the NC Constitutions. Not only are gun control regulations unwise and dangerous, they are illegal. The right to bear arms shall not be infringed. I will work to repeal current gun control regulations, and will never vote in favor of gun control.

Job Growth:

The most important aspect of economic recovery is job growth. In the midst of skyrocketing unemployment, Governor Perdue continues to push jobs and revenues out of the State by establishing affiliate taxes on Internet sales, and increasing the regulatory and legislative burdens to business and barriers market entry. In order to enhance job growth in North Carolina, it is crucial to reduce the cost of doing business, allowing employers to hire more employees. As your State House Representative, I will work to make it easier for companies to hire workers, while laboring to prevent undocumented aliens from undercutting the opportunities for legal residents and citizens.

Redistricting, Political Corruption, and Term Limits:

Clearly, we have a problem with political corruption in North Carolina. Between special interests, lobbyist influence, favor trading, and cronyism, something desperately needs to be done. The solution is to stop the illegal district gerrymandering that keeps the corrupt in power, by establishing fair, community based redistricting, and setting term limits for the NC General Assembly at three terms.


This document is written produced and distributed by the Committee to elect Glen Bradley for NC State House District 49 2010

tangent4ronpaul
09-11-2009, 09:49 PM
Just a note - but your intro line sounds like you are introducing yourself at a 12 steps meeting.... NEEDS WORK! This is supposed to be the "hook" - that thing that makes people want to read more....

Look up the port huron statement, for example. Initially the intro sucked - then it became, after prompting:

"We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed now in universities, looking uncomfortably to the world we inherit. "

-t

John E
09-11-2009, 10:06 PM
I really like it. If you were running up here, I'd vote for you!

John E
09-11-2009, 10:10 PM
One random thing that just came to mind...

Change the format around, make it personal, one man to another. Give me the facts, but give me the feeling you have behind it. Less professional but it may strike a cord with true republicans who feel ignored. Even incorporate that.

DirtMcGirt
09-11-2009, 10:32 PM
Nice work and there has been some good advice- just briefly reading through it and the 1st thing that came to mind was the climate section where you can explain a bit more perhaps stating you believe every individual should take on some responsibility for the place we call home but adding taxes to carbon is not the answer.

I saw you were adding a section about yourself which would be a great add-on to make it more personal. Why you enjoy your district, the towns, people, workers, small businesses, etc...

tangent4ronpaul
09-12-2009, 12:38 AM
Kind of off topic - but an example of a powerful hook:

From Graham Greene's "The Power and the Glory": (first para in the book)

"Mr Trench went out to look for his ether cylinder, into the blazing Mexican sun and the bleaching dust. A few vultures looked down from the roof with shabby indifference, he wasn't carrion yet. A faint feeling or rebellion stirred in Mr. Trenches heart, and he wrenched up a piece of the road with splintering fingernails tossed it feebly towards them. One rose and flapped across the town, over the tiny plaza, over the bust of an ex-president, ex-general, ex-human being, over the two stalls which sold mineral water, toward the river and the sea. It wouldn't find anything there: the sharks looked after the carrion on that side. Mr. Trench went on across the plaza."

It really sets the mood and makes you want to read more.

More to the point and political - an e-mail I received from a woman in response to a post of mine during the Bush administration. VERY POWERFUL WRITING!

"I think it's much simpler than that. I think what's set off the general population is the ever-growing intrusiveness into our lives and the secretiveness of and blatant, unapologetic attitude of this administration that it's above the law. Those characteristics scream fascism to Americans.

We've had invasive laws many times before, but never laws that were so intrusive to everyone, regardless of suspicious activity, never so many coming in such a short time frame. While our president scoffs at our concerns and anger, and never set against such an absurd background as the illegal immigration problem. While the government watches us like a hawk, they let hundreds of thousnds of illegal immigrants into the country and openly defy the anger and concern of American people. I can't tell you how many people I've heard comment that they feel like they are in Germany right before WWII. Middle-class Republican soccer moms are worrying aloud about the "fascist" bent of the government. Scarcely a day goes by that I don't hear hear people comment that we need a revolution in this country. These aren't just the usual activists and fringe elements. These are the everyday people we usually call sheelpe. Americans are angry because they believe the government has turned against us and that out only recourse is going to be something big and ugly and probably violent (and those are quotes too)."

TALK ABOUT POWERFUL WRITING!

-t

tangent4ronpaul
09-12-2009, 12:56 AM
Kind of off topic - but an example of a powerful hook:

From Graham Greene's "The Power and the Glory": (first para in the book)

"Mr Trench went out to look for his ether cylinder, into the blazing Mexican sun and the bleaching dust. A few vultures looked down from the roof with shabby indifference, he wasn't carrion yet. A faint feeling or rebellion stirred in Mr. Trenches heart, and he wrenched up a piece of the road with splintering fingernails tossed it feebly towards them. One rose and flapped across the town, over the tiny plaza, over the bust of an ex-president, ex-general, ex-human being, over the two stalls which sold mineral water, toward the river and the sea. It wouldn't find anything there: the sharks looked after the carrion on that side. Mr. Trench went on across the plaza."

It really sets the mood and makes you want to read more.

More to the point and political - an e-mail I received from a woman in response to a post of mine during the Bush administration. VERY POWERFUL WRITING!

"I think it's much simpler than that. I think what's set off the general population is the ever-growing intrusiveness into our lives and the secretiveness of and blatant, unapologetic attitude of this administration that it's above the law. Those characteristics scream fascism to Americans.

We've had invasive laws many times before, but never laws that were so intrusive to everyone, regardless of suspicious activity, never so many coming in such a short time frame. While our president scoffs at our concerns and anger, and never set against such an absurd background as the illegal immigration problem. While the government watches us like a hawk, they let hundreds of thousnds of illegal immigrants into the country and openly defy the anger and concern of American people. I can't tell you how many people I've heard comment that they feel like they are in Germany right before WWII. Middle-class Republican soccer moms are worrying aloud about the "fascist" bent of the government. Scarcely a day goes by that I don't hear hear people comment that we need a revolution in this country. These aren't just the usual activists and fringe elements. These are the everyday people we usually call sheelpe. Americans are angry because they believe the government has turned against us and that out only recourse is going to be something big and ugly and probably violent (and those are quotes too)."

TALK ABOUT POWERFUL WRITING!

-t